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RESEARCH STUDY

The Virtual Interaction Laboratory (VIRaL)
School of Media, Technological University Dublin

The Virtual Interaction Laboratory (VIRaL) is conducting research in collaboration with AnamVR (https://anamvr.com/). AnamVR have developed a mobile Virtual reality application . AnamVR is a Dublin-based mental health platform that combines mobile and virtual reality technology to help people manage anxiety and improve wellbeing. It offers evidence-based tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises, psychoeducation, mood tracking, and immersive VR relaxation experiences. Designed to be accessible and stigma-free, AnamVR provides users with practical strategies for self-management, either as a complement to therapy or as a standalone support tool.

Want to be part of something exciting?
VIRaL is running a research study to explore how effective and useful the AnamVR app is for supporting mental health and wellbeing. If you’re a TU Dublin student, we’d love for you to take part!

Important note on sign-up:
Please don’t use your TU Dublin email address or your main personal email when registering. Instead, use an alternate email address or create an alias. Here are some easy options:
• Create a new free email account (e.g. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) just for the study.
• Use an alias feature if your provider supports it:
• iCloud: use Hide My Email to instantly generate a private relay address.
• Outlook / Yahoo: both allow creation of disposable or alias addresses in your account settings.

This way, you stay in control of the email used to contact us.

👉 [Insert Sign-Up Link Here]

RESEARCH STUDY

The Virtual Interaction Laboratory (VIRaL)
School of Media, Technological University Dublin

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This way, you stay in control of the email used to contact us.

AnamVR and VIRaL Research Study Participant Information Statement

You are being invited to participate in a research project examining the use of virtual reality to support mental health. This study is being conducted by Dr. Brian Vaughan (School of Media, TU Dublin) in collaboration with AnamVR (https://anamvr.com). This document outlines what it means to be a participant in this study.

Purpose of the Study
The aim of this research is to explore how AnamVR’s virtual reality technology may impact users’ mental health. Insights from this study will contribute to future research and development in the field of mental health support through immersive technologies. The study is funded by an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher awarded to AnamVR (https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/innovation-voucher).

Your Participation
Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time. If you withdraw, all data associated with your participation will be deleted. You will complete a pre-use survey and a post-use survey, both of which include the PHQ-9 (questionnaire on depression) and GAD-7 (questionnaire on anxiety) mental health screening tools. These will be administered by a trained and licensed psychotherapist (Rob Sheridan). You must provide consent before you have the meeting and before completing each survey (see the link below to complete the consent form). Once you have consented to the meeting you can make an appointment using an online calendar service, Calendy. We encourage to continue to use an alternative email for making the appointment. Please note, this meeting is not a therapy session, it is for you to self-complete both the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 assessments using a secure online form during the meeting. Rob will keep track of your score and depending on the score one of

• If the score is in crisis range (>20) → immediate crisis guidance (A&E / emergency services/ GP / Check to see whether they are currently seeing a therapist + helplines). You will be excluded from the study.

• If the score is high but not in crisis (15-19)→ referral to listed support services: https://www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/student-wellbeing/counselling-service/resources/. You will be excluded from the study.

• If the score is moderate (10-14) → encouragement to monitor and consider reaching out if symptoms persist and provided details of support services available: https://www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/student-wellbeing/counselling-service/resources/. Participants can take part in the study.

• If the score is moderate (5-9) → encouragement to monitor and consider reaching out if symptoms persist and provided details of support services available: https://www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/student-wellbeing/counselling-service/resources/. Participants can take part in the study

Scoring highly on the GAD-7 (anxiety questionnaire) will not exclude you from the study. The GAD-7 is a screening tool, so any high score requires further evaluation to determine if an anxiety disorder or other mental health condition is present, but you will be advised to seek support services for further support and evaluation.

If you can take part in the study, you will be assigned a unique anonymous participant code during the one-on-one session. This code will be used to match your pre and post survey responses and to collect your VR headset. No personally identifying information will be linked to this code which will be a randomly generated series of numbers and letters.

Survey and Support Process
Surveys will be administered during the one-to-one online session with Rob Sheridan, a licensed psychotherapist (IACP) and co-founder of AnamVR. You are required to to self-complete a PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) questionnaire in both the pre and post surveys. These are necessary to obtain a baseline measure before you use the ANAMVR application and a measure for after you use the application.You will also be asked about your experience on using the AnamVR application.

You will be directed to TU Dublin’s counselling services at the start and end of the session, and links to these services are included in both surveys. Rob will guide you through the survey questions verbally while you complete them digitally using a secure online form. Rob will record your responses temporarily on paper (without any identifying information), which will be destroyed immediately after the session. This is done so he can calculate your scores on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 rating scales.

VR Headset Collection
After completing the pre-use survey, and if you are able to take part in the study, you will be given information to collect a VR headset to use with your mobile phone.

You will collect a headset from a designated location in TU Dublin.
Headsets will be placed in sealed, numbered bags or boxes.
Each bag will be labelled with a participant code.
Participants are given a list of times and dates when they can collect their headsets
They find the bag with their code at the location
A participant information sheet will also be in the bag so you are clear on what the study is and what you have to do.
You will not have to interact with anyone or show ID of any sort.
You can keep the headset and do not need to return it after the study.

VR Use and Data Analysis
You will use the AnamVR app for a period of 4–6 weeks. You will have to create an account to use the app. We will not have any access to your account data and will have no access to data related to your use of the app. No app use data is used in this study. You can create an account with any email you want. We are only interested in your Pre and Post survey results. After using the app for a period of 4-6 weeks, you will complete a post-use survey in a second online session with Rob Sheridan, that you will book using the same method as you used for the pre-use survey. Your responses will be matched securely using your anonymous code so that the pre and post use surveys can be compared.

Support Services

TU Dublin provides free and confidential counselling and wellbeing supports for students. If at any point you feel stressed, upset, or would like to talk to someone—whether or not this is related to your participation in this research—you are encouraged to make use of these services. The TU Dublin Counselling Service Resources page also contains links to a wide range of national and community support organisations, so you can find help that suits your needs both within and beyond TU Dublin.

https://www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/student-wellbeing/counselling-service/resources/

If you have any questions please contact the lead researcher: brian.vaughan@tudublin.ie

To take part in the research study please complete this consent form and make an appointment to have a meeting and complete the PHQ-9, and GAD-7 questionnaires: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/HMcGp6KqHc